Balancing device for flying machines



June 7, 1938. c. R. A. M. DE ROUGE BALANCING DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES Filed May 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 7, 1938. c, A M, 5 ROUGE 2,120,065

BALANCING DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES Filed May 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if Invemor:

[fiar/es R 4 02% 6 244. AERONAUTICS.

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES ocarCfl mom PATENT OFFICE BALANCING DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES Charles Roger Anne Marie de Roug, Mercues, France, assignor to Pollopas Patents Limited,

London, England Application May 11, 1936, Serial No. 79,033 In France May 11, 1935 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to balancing devices for flying machines, consisting of an auxiliary wing or mast adapted to support members arranged in high planes which may come to action by their different positions in the three dimensions of the air space.

The auxiliary wing or mast and the members supported thereby allow reduction of the resistance against the forward movement, are of simple construction and high tensile strength, and cause an increase of the lateral stability during movement in the longitudinal or vertical direction of flight. The auxiliary wing or mast may, moreover, be adapted for accommodating passengers and instruments of any kind as well as fixed and movable balancing devices, parachutes, aeroplane-parachutes, aeroplane balancing parachutes, firearms and so on.

The auxiliary wing or mast according to the invention substantially consists of a kind of box of airfoil shape, extending vertically above the supporting planes of the flying machine, and may be considered as a robust supporting wing or mast the base of which is of sufflcient dimensions to allow its walls to be connected to those of the body of the flying machine.

A mast or wing of the kind mentioned above is vertically mounted upon a flying machine in a manner to allow lateral tilting, or may consist of two parts each adapted to be tilted towards one side of the machine frame. The wing or mast may, however, also be so constructed as to be capable of being tilted rather far in a plane vertically to the supporting planes of the flying machine, whereby the stability in the direction of flight is improved. Moreover, upon the body of the flying machine a deck structure may be mounted, capable of receiving the masts or wings, and arranged in such a manner. that, by means well known in the art (telescoping tubes), the masts or auxiliary wings may more or less be inserted into and withdrawn from it. This arrangement allows decreasing and increasing the leverage available for stabilizing purposes. Furthermore, subdivided balancing or stabilizing planes of diiferent shapes and dimensions may be mounted at the upwardly extending masts or wings of multiple plane flying machines.

In the accompanying drawings various constructions of balancing devices according to the invention are shown diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a balancing device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a construction equipped with two masts or wings inclined with respect to the supporting planes,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a flying machine having a mast or auxiliary wing capable of being tilted,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a flying machine showing a deck structure adapted to receive the mast or auxiliary wing.

As may be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the body I of the flying machine carries the supporting planes 2 and 3 and the mast or auxiliary wing 4 at the upper end of which the balancing planes are provided. The balancing planes consist of two flaps 5 and 6 capable of rotating about the pivot l in a direction vertically to their upper surfaces, whereby said flaps 5 and B are moved with regard to each other or in unison.

By moving the flaps 5 and 6 from the position shown in full lines to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, they offer resistance, while, when moved in unison, they effect a negative or positive supporting action.

According to Fig. 2, the two flaps 5 and 6 are so positioned as to effect a positive supporting action.

Instead of a single pivot 1, two pivots may be used in which case the pivots may more or less be separated from each other.

To increase the lateral stability, the pivots may form a more or less great angle between them.

The mast or auxiliary wing 4 may, as also illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, be provided with vertical flaps Band Sadapted to act independently of each other to cause lateral inclinations of the flying machine. 7

Furthermore, similar flaps l and II may be mounted at the mast or auxiliary wing 4 which individually or together may be adjusted to cause brakingor direction changing actions more or less near the base of the mast or auxiliary wing 4. The horizontal and vertical flaps may all be adjusted by the driver or automatically by means of wires or rigid connections known in the art.

Fig. 3 shows a modified construction wherein masts I2 and I3 are provided, one at each side of the center of the supporting planes. These masts may be arranged in an inclined position, so that their free ends extend towards the tip of the supporting planes I4 and I respectively.

Fig. 3 clearly illustrates, that the horizontal flaps l6, l1 and l8, l9 respectively act in a different manner. The flaps |6 and I1 are separated from each other and cause resistance which brakes the movement of the supporting plane l4, while the two flaps l8 and I9. lowered in the same sense. have a positive supporting action raising the supporting plane I5.

The interior of the masts or auxiliary wings 4 and l2, l3 respectively may, by using the means known in the construction of the body of flying machines, be so formed, that, without weakenings being caused, space is obtained for receiving instruments and persons.

According to the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 vertical walls 23 and 24 respectively are provided at the edges of the supporting planes 2| and 22 which are carried by the body 20 of the flying machine. Mounted upon the body 20 is a deck structure 25 upon which a mast 26 is arranged. Flexible or rigid means 28 and 29 serve to tilt the mast 26 in any desired inclined lateral position.

If by tilting the mast 26 the flaps 30 and 3| are brought into the position shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 4, i. e. across the direction of flight, they cause turning or change of the balance of the flying machine and assist for instance in effecting turning or offer resistance thereto.

The pivot 21 of the mast 26 may be arranged at any desired height above the supporting planes 2| and 22, or a single mast or a plurality of masts with pivots may be so mounted above the supporting planes 2| and 22 as to be capable of being moved downwardly upon the supporting planes or into recesses formed in the latter.

If the pivots are mounted suiflciently high, the parts folded downwardly may be positioned in the lower parts of the deck structure 25.

As may be seen from Fig. 5, the mast 26 and flaps 34 mounted thereon may, for instance by means of cables 32 and 33, be tilted rather far in a plane situated in the direction of flight, so that the flaps 34 are directed towards the front or rear portion of the machine.

The provision of the flaps 30, 3| and 34 with regard to the vertical walls 23 and 24 at the sides of the body 20 of the machine has an effect similar to that of an ideal vertical wing arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 20 of the machine, i. e. an increase of the stability. of the flying machine in the direction of flight. Any change in the adjustment of the one flap about a small angle causes alteration of the general directionof flight of the machine and of the position of the latter.

By means of the flexible or rigid adjusting devices, for instance the cables 28 and 29 shown in Fig. 4 and the cables 32 and 33 illustrated in Fig. 5, the vertical mast or wing 26 may be tilted in any desired direction. The pivot arrangement used may for example be a kind of toggle joint.

As shown in Fig. 6, a mast 4| equipped with @flaps 42 and 43 may, by any known mechanical means, be drawn out of the deck structure 40.

Each of the Figures 4 to 6 shows a flying machine the supporting planes of which are provided with vertical walls 23, 24 and 38, 39 respectively at the outer edge. In Fig. 6 the mast 4| is surrounded by the deck structure 40 and may be drawn into the latter by any adjusting means and occupy in the interior of said structure for instance the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

At any desired moment the mast 4| together with its flaps 42 and 43 may, by automatic or nonautomatic adjusting devices, be withdrawn from the deck structure 40 to any desired position and thus come into operative position.

Any known means, for instance means allowing movements of the flaps parallel to themselves on change of the inclination of the mast, may serve to connect the flaps. Then, independently of the inclination of the mast, the adjustment of the flaps is solely effected by the driver of the flying machine.

It is evident, that the flaps and masts may be arranged at any distance above the supporting planes of the flying machine and also at difierent distances from the vertical central longitudinal plane of the machine, depending upon whether a monoplane or multiple plane flying machine is being considered. By the arrangement according to the invention, a robust balancing device is provided preventing lateral gliding of the machine and enabling it to effect easy turning due to the fact, that an excellent longitudinal direction of flight and a horizontal path of flight are obtained.

What I claim is:

1. A flying machine, comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mast pivotally arranged with its lower end upon said deck structure and adapted to be tilted laterally and towards the front and rear end of the machine, and flaps mounted at said mast in two planes vertically to each other, said mast being adapted to be folded downwardly into a position to bear against one of said supporting planes or to engage a recess in the said deck structure.

2. A flying machine, comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mast pivotally arranged with its lower end upon said deck structure, adjusting means for tilting said mast laterally and towards the front and rear end of the machine, and flaps mounted at said mast in two planes vertically to each other, said mast being adapted to be folded downwardly into a position to bear against one of said supporting planes or to engage a recess in the said deck structure.

3. A flying machine, comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mast arranged in said deck structure, means to move said mast into and out of said deck structure, and flaps mounted at said mast.

4. A flying machine comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mast pivotally arranged with its lower end upon said deck structure and adapted to be tilted laterally and towards the front and rear end of the machine, and flaps mounted on said mast in two planes vertically to each other, said mast being adapted to be folded downwardly into a position to bear against one of said supporting planes.

5. A flying machine comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mast pivotally arranged with its lower end upon said deck structure and adapted to be tilted laterally and towards the front and rear end of the machine, and flaps mounted on said mast in two planes vertically to each other, said mast being adapted to be folded downwardly into a position to engage a recess in the said deck structure.

6. A flying machine comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mastpivotally arranged with its lower end upon said deck structure, adjusting means for tilting said mast laterally and towards the front and rear end of the machine, and flaps mounted on said mast in two planes vertically to each other, said mast being adapted to be folded downwardly into a position to bear against one of said supporting planes.

7. A flying machine comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said body portion, a vertical wall carried by each of said supporting planes, a deck structure mounted upon said body portion, a mast pivotally arranged with its lower end upon said deck structure, adjusting means for tilting said mast laterally and towards the front and rear end of the machine, and flaps mounted on said mast in two planes vertically to each other, said mast being adapted to be folded downwardly into a position to engage a recess in the said deck structure.

8. A flying machine, comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said portion, a rigid guide wing, having an area approximately equal to that of a supporting plane and being secured to the body portion in the region of the supporting planes in an upwardly extending position and having a base conforming to the shape of the body portion and flaps mounted on the said guide wing in two planes at an angle to each other.

9. A flying machine, comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said portion, a rigid guide wing, havir'. an area approximately equal to that of a supporting plane and being secured to the body portion in the region of the supporting planes in an upwardly extending position and horizontal flaps carried by said guide wing and adapted to be turned about an angle of more than 90 in directions transverse to their surfaces.

10. A flying machine, comprising a. body portion, supporting planes connected to said portion, a rigid guide wing, having an area approximately equal to that of a supporting plane and being secured to the body portion in the region of the supporting planes in an upwardly extending position, two horizontal flaps carried by said guide wing and adapted to be turned about an angle of more than 90 in directions transverse to their surfaces and two vertical flaps carried by said guide wing pivotally mounted with their front edge to said guide wing and adapted to be controlled by the operator.

11. A flying machine, comprising a body portion, supporting planes connected to said portion, a rigid guide wing, having an area approximately equal to that of a supporting plane and being secured to the body portion in the region of the supporting planes in an upwardly extending position, two horizontal flaps carried by said guide wing and adapted to be turned about an angle of more than 90 in directions transverse to their surfaces, two vertical flaps carried by said guide wing pivotally mounted at their front edges on said guide wing and adapted to be controlled by the operator, and two other vertical flaps, extending to the base of said guide wing and adapted to be controlled by said operator.

CHARLES ROGER ANNE MARIE D! ROUGE. 

